Massage Techniques To Aid Digestion

For the past few weeks Ive been talking about massage therapy marketing and advertising but I havent really talked about massage techniques. A friend gave me a suggestion to write this topic and I thought it was a great idea.

Have you ever had a client in your massage business who comes to you for massage to help their digestion and not known what to do about it? Its common knowledge that massage therapy is helpful for getting energy flow to the abdominal region to alleviate pain and discomfort, but is that all there is? IS there something beyond Swedish massage techniques that can help our clients?

When I was studying massage for the first time I learnt a number of really good points on the body to help with massage techniques to aid digestion. And I wanted to share a few of them with you.

I found a really great massage technique to aid digestion that was a combination of acupressure and Swedish. I found that when I worked on the abdomen to relieve digestion pain and discomfort first and then worked on other acupressure points to stimulate the energy to the area. The great thing about this massage technique was that you could gently apply pressure to the digestion/stomach points whilst creating a great sense of relaxation and calm for the client. You could work the acupressure points in with your Swedish effleurage techniques. Gently at first then ask the client if its okay to hold the pressure for a bit until that point has no more pain. When the client has no more pain on this point you would have helped to clear the energy blockage of that pressure point. As a consequence, you will have helped the condition and give the bodies response to that condition a head start on healing and well being.

If you look on an acupressure chart you will find several points relating to the digestion and stomach. Lets take for example the legs. There is a acupressure point that you can apply pressure to. If your client doesnt mind having his or her legs massage you can simply apply some firm pressure in the form of digipressure or firm Swedish massage stomach 36. Youll find this point four finger-widths below the kneecap outside the shinbone. You can create this effective technique on both legs. This point is commonly referred to as Zusanli is Stomach 36. Its is one of the most frequently used of all acupuncture points.

You can also use Reflexology points as a massage technique to aid digestion. What I mean by this is that you can offer to do a relaxing foot massage at the end of the treatment as a nice way to finish off, and gently work with your thumbs into the reflexology points to stimulate the energy flow to the digestion.

Finding helpful massage techniques to aid digestion for your clients will give you great credibility with your clients. Its always a great thing to do for them if you can incorporate other modalities into your massage business. Youll be able to help clients in the massage treatment session and they will appreciate your keen willingness to provide good service for them.

Keep up that great work!
Amy Roberts
www.MassageTherapySuccess.com

Picture courtesy of http://bhojraj.tripod.com
To see the picture go to http://massagesuccess.wordpress.com/

Chair Massage Techniques
Chair massage techniques are unique. Many massage therapists try to use traditional Swedish massage techniques when doing chair massage, but this kind...

Massage Therapy: The Physical Benefits On Digestion, Immunity, And Circulation
DigestionMassage Therapy can help to improve digestion by increasing peristalsis (this is the involuntary contraction of the muscles that helps food t...

Infant Massage and Your Baby
There is a growing trend towards infant massage. Some mothers are learning these special techniques, or taking their children to baby classes where th...

The Basics of Japanese Massage
Over the years many different schools of massage have developed, each one displaying a variety of techniques to help people to relax, feel better, and...

Incall Massage Versus Outcall Massage
In my San Antonio Massage and Bodywork practice I frequently receive calls from prospective clients who are unclear about the differences between inca...

Pregnancy And Massage Therapy
When you are pregnant, your body is under tremendous pressure. Everything hurts, everything aches. But how can you get relief from this tension and st...

Sport Massage Therapy
Sport massage therapy is very important to athletes who need to have relaxation and injury related massage to help them stay in shape for the next com...

Treating Athletes Using Massage Therapy
Over the past ten years it has become more common to find massage therapists treating athletes using massage therapy. The therapeutic advantage of mas...

Learning New Massage Therapy Techniques For Success
During your career as a massage therapist, you will want to continue your education so you can learn all about new techniques in massage therapy. Alth...

Shiatsu Massage Therapy - Shiatsu Techniques
When my friend Iolanda recently became a Shiatsu massage therapist, after having trained extensively for several years and passed all her exams, I bec...

How to Learn a Massage Therapy Technique
More and more individuals are beginning to realize a real desire to learn a good massage therapy technique. Gone are the days when the skill of massag...

How to Start a Career in Massage Therapy
A career in massage therapy can be an extremely rewarding choice for people interested in working with and helping others. While learning the proper ...

The Benefits of a Sports Massage
Sports massage is a specialized type of massage therapy used before, during and after athletic events. The purpose of this type of massage is to help ...

Asian Massage Therapy
There are several forms of ancient Asian massage still being practiced in the world today. Asian massage techniques are ancient healing rituals devel...

Why Abdominal Massage?
Why include abdominal massage as part of your massage session? You have four layers of muscles in your abdomen, and that doesn't include the diaphragm...

This entry has been filed under Massaging and currently has